Memo tape

ABSTRACT

A memo measuring device of the type comprising a housing and a coiled extendible and retractable measuring tape therewithin. The housing has front and rear shells and means connecting the same and a front housing opening extends throughout the major portion of the face area of the housing. A small opening is provided in the rear housing shell. A waxed plate disposed within the housing adjacent the front shell opening has a transparent sheet thereover for dimensional notations and other memoranda. A stem extending rearwardly from the plate is hollow and opens through the rear shell opening. A plunger within the stem opening has an associated return spring and a front end portion engageable with the transparent sheet. Manual finger pressure urging the plunger forwardly displaces the transparent sheet from the waxed plate and clears the memoranda thereon.

1451 June 27, 1972 ilrtited States Patent Williamson MEMO TAPE Inventor: Jervis C. Williamson, R.F.D. #5, PO. Box Primary Examinernstanley Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder Attorney-McCormick, Paulding & Huber [22] Filed:

21 Appl. No.2 111,316

A memo measuring device of the type comprising a housing and a coiled extendible and retractable measuring tape therewithin. The housing has front and rear shells and means connecting the same and a front housing opening extends throughout the major portion of the face area of the housing. A small opening is provided in the rear housing shell. A waxed [58] Field oiSearch..............

plate disposed within the housing adjacent the front shell References Cited opening has a transparent sheet thereover for dimensional notations and other memoranda. A stem extending rearwardiy from the plate is hollow and opens through the rear shell open- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing. A plunger within the stem opening has an associated return spring and a front end portion engageable with the transparent sheet. Manual finger pressure urging the plunger n 8 m he an BF forwardly displaces the transparent sheet from the waxed plate and clears the memoranda thereon.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France.....................................33/138 Great Britain .35/66 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures N y I", 6 Q M 3 PKTENTEDJUHZ'Y I972 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

I N VENTOR. JERVIS C. WILLIAMSON ATTORNEYS MEMO TAPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Measuring devices of the type comprising a housing and a coiled extendible and retractable measuring tape therewithin have enjoyed extensive use for many years. The occasion for notation of dimensions and other memoranda arises frequently in the use of such measuring devices. US. Pat. No. 2,9l4,269 discloses a measuring tape wherein a writing disc" is mounted thereon. No provision is made, however, for clearing or erasing the disc other than simply rubbing on the disc with the thumb."

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of the present invention to provide a measuring device of the type mentioned wherein provision is made for entering dimensional notations or other memoranda upon a transparent sheet disposed over a waxed plate, a slight movement of the transparent sheet away from the waxed plate resulting in erasure or clearing of the memoranda.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front elevational view of a measuring device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the measuring device of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally as indicated at 3-3 in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally as indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 1, it will be observed that a measuring device shown therein takes a generally conventional form with a housing having a small ring 12 disposed at a lower left-hand portion thereof and attached to a leading end portion of a tape coiled within the housing and extendible and retractable with respect thereto. Such a tape is shown at 14 in FIG. 3 in association with a coiled return spring 16. The tape 14 and coiled return spring or other similar device may vary widely within the scope of the present invention as may the shape and other structural features of the tape housing.

Preferably, and as shown, the tape housing comprises a front section, FIG. 3, l8 and a rear section 20. The front and rear housing sections or shells 18, may be substantially identical in construction and in shape as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Small bosses 22, 22 formed internally in the front housing shell or section I8, FIG. 4, are provided with threaded openings and four such bosses are preferably provided as illustrated. Cooperating screws, FIG. 2, 24, 24 extend through suitable openings in the rear housing section or shell 20 and are entered in the threaded openings in the bosses 22, 22 whereby to secure the housing shells or sections in assembled relationship.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be observed that a relatively large opening is provided in the front housing section or shell 18 at 26. The opening 26 extends over a major area of the face of the front housing shell 18 and is preferably of circular configuration as illustrated. Further, there is preferably provided an annular rib 28 which is formed internally and which projects rearwardly within the housing shell 18 adjacent the opening 26 therein. The rib 28 will serve a purpose to be described more fully hereinbelow.

The rear housing shell 20 has a small central opening 30, FIG. 3, and may otherwise conform to a conventional shell or section in a measuring device of the type in consideration. Disposed within the opening 30 is a rear portion 32 of a hollow stern indicated generally at 34 and which is formed to project integrally and rearwardly from a plate 36. The plate 36 is disposed within the housing adjacent the aforementioned opening 26 and has a plurality of small pins 38 formed thereon. Three such pins 38 are shown and are entered in appropriate openings 40, 40 in the front housing shell 18 to secure the plate 36 therewithin. The integral stern extending rearwardly from the plate 36 has a front portion 44 provided with a threaded rear opening 46 for receiving a threaded front portion 48 of the aforementioned stem rear portion 32. An outer most or rearward most portion 50 of the rear stem portion is diametrically enlarged and is recessed forwardly at a central portion in accordance with the presently preferred practice.

A plunger indicated generally at 52 extends within the hollow stem 34 and has an associated return spring 54 which bears rearwardly upon a diametrically enlarged portion 56 of the plunger. The front end portion of the spring 54 bears upon a seat 58. Thus, the plunger 52 can be urged forwardly under manual pressure exerted by the finger of the operator at a rear end portion of the plunger. The spring 54 urges the plunger rearwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3. In such position, the front end portion 60 of the plunger lies substantially in the plane of the plate 36 and more particularly, substantially within the plane of the front surface of the plate 36, the said surface being waxed as mentioned above. A small rearwardly projecting boss 62 is formed centrally on a transparent sheet 63 and has a small opening 64 therewithin which receives the front end portion 60 of the plunger 54 whereby to provide for forward displacement of a central portion and thus the major portion of the flexible transparent sheet. The said sheet is disposed within the opening 26 and clamped between the aforementioned annular rib 28 and the front surface of the plate 36. The transparent sheet 63 is flexible as stated and has a degree of elasticity permitting the plate to be urged forwardly by the plunger a sufficient distance toerase or clear memoranda thereon and, on release of the plunger 52, is urged rearwardly by the spring 54 to the inoperative position shown.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a memo rule has been provided wherein dimensional notations and other memoranda may be readily entered with a stylus, pencil or other device by writing upon the transparent sheet 63. When it is desired to erase or clear the sheet, it is necessary merely to urge the plunger 52 forwardly with a slight manual application of pressure at the rear side of the measuring tape and the transparent sheet is thereupon urged outwardly to achieve the desired clearing action. Release of pressure upon the plunger 52 places the transparent sheet in condition for the entry of further memoranda. As will be apparent, additional transparent sheets may be provided for substitution for the sheet 63. Further, it will be apparent that reinforcing means may be provided as in the form of a nylon ribbing embedded in the transparent sheet. Such means fall within the scope of the invention and may be included together with other features as contemplated in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A measuring device of the type comprising a housing and a coiled extendible and retractable measuring tape therewithin, said housing comprising front and rear shells and means for connecting the same with a coiled tape disposed therewithin, said front housing shell having an opening extending throughout a major portion of its face area and said rear housing shell having a small centrally located opening therein, a plate having a waxed surface disposed within said housing adjacent and exposed through said front shell opening, said plate having associated therewith a hollow rearwardly projecting stem which is entered in and opens through said small rear shell opening, a transparent flexible and elastic member disposed over said waxed surface of said plate and held marginally between said plate and an inner surface of said front housing shell adjacent said shell opening, an elongated plunger slidably mounted in said hollow stem with a front end portion adjacent said transparent sheet and with a rear end portion projecting from said stem externally of said rear shell for manual manipulation, and a return spring for said plunger operatively mounted within said hollow stem, said plunger being movable forwardly at the urging of manual finger pressure at its projecting rear end portion whereby to urge a central portion of said transparent sheet forwardly away from said waxed plate and to clear the same of memoranda, and said plunger being urged rearwardly by said return spring to an inoperative position where its said front end portion resides substantially in the plane of said waxed plate and where indicia can be placed upon said transparent sheet by stylus, pencil and the like.

2. A measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening in said front housing shell is of circular configuration and said transparent sheet is of similar circular configuration.

3. A measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hollow stem is constructed in two parts with a first part integral with said plate and extending rearwardly with a threaded opening at a rear end portion thereof, and a second part having a threaded front portion entered into said rearwardly open threaded portion and a diametrically enlarged portion disposed externally of said rear housing shell and in engagement therewith.

4. A measuring device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said diametrically enlarged portion is recessed centrally to provide for inward and forward manual urging of said rear end portion of said plunger.

5. A measuring device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transparent sheet has a centrally located and rearwardly extending boss thereon with a small central opening therein, said small central opening receiving and fitting a front end portion of said plunger.

6. A measuring device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said front housing shell has a small rib formed adjacent said opening therein and projecting rearwardly therefrom internally of said housing, said rib engaging said transparent sheet marginally and securing the same against unintended or accidental radial inward displacement. 

1. A measuring device of the type comprising a housing and a coiled extendible and retractable measuring tape therewithin, said housing comprising front and rear shells and means for connecting the same with a coiled tape disposed therewithin, said front housing shell having an opening extending throughout a major portion of its face area and said rear housing shell having a small centrally located opening therein, a plate having a waxed surface disposed within said housing adjacent and exposed through said front shell opening, said plate having associated therewith a hollow rearwardly projecting stem which is entered in and opens through said small rear shell opening, a transparent flexible and elastic member disposed over said waxed surface of said plate and held marginally between said plate and an inner surface of said front housing shell adjacent said shell opening, an elongated plunger slidably mounted in said hollow stem with a front end portion adjacent said transparent sheet and with a rear end portion projecting from said stem externally of said rear shell for manual manipulation, and a return spring for said plunger operatively mounted within said hollow stem, said plunger being movable forwardly at the urging of manual finger pressure at its projecting rear end portion whereby to urge a central portion of said transparent sheet forwardly away from said waxed plate and to clear the same of memoranda, and said plunger being urged rearwardly by said return spring to an inoperative position where its said front end portion resides substantially in the plane of said waxed plate and where indicia can be placed upon said transparent sheet by stylus, pencil and the like.
 2. A measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening in said front housing shell is of circular configuration and said transparent sheet is of similar circular configuration.
 3. A measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hollow stem is constructed in two parts with a first part integral with said plate and extending rearwardly with a threaded opening at a rear end portion thereof, and a second part having a threaded front portion entered into said rearwardly open threaded portion and a diametrically enlarged portion disposed externally of said rear housing shell and in engagement therewith.
 4. A measuring device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said diametrically enlarged portion is recessed centrally to provide for inward and forward manual urging of said rear end portion of said plunger.
 5. A measuring device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transparent sheet has a centrally located and rearwardly extending boss thereon with a small central opening therein, said small central opening receiving and fitting a front end portion of said plunger.
 6. A measuring device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said front housing shell has a small rib formed adjacent said opening therein and projecting rearwardly therefrom internally of said housing, said rib engaging said transparent sheet marginally and securing the same against unintended or accidental radial inward displacement. 